DAN´s Oxygen First Aid

DAN´s Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Provider Course was designed to fill the void in oxygen first aid training available for the general diving public.

This course represents entry level training designed to educate the general diving (and qualified non-diving) public in recognizing possible dive related injuries and providing emergency oxygen first aid while activating the local emergency medical services (EMS) and/or arranging for evacuation to the nearest available medical facility.

In DAN´s most recent dive accident record, less than 33% of injured divers received emergency oxygen in the field. Few of those received oxygen concentrations approaching the recommended 100%. DAN and all major diving instructional agencies recommend that all divers be qualified to provide 100% oxygen in the field to those injured in a dive accident.

ObjectivesThe course is designed to train and educate the general diving public in the techniques of using oxygen as first aid for a suspected dive injury. In addition, this course will introduce novice divers to the fundamentals of recognizing diving injury warning signs, response and management. This program also provides an excellent opportunity for experienced divers and instructors to continue their education.

The DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries course is not designed to train lay persons to provide oxygen to the general public. While the medical standards and equipment are the same regarding the emergency use of oxygen for both divers and non-divers, the DAN Oxygen Provider course does not prepare individuals to respond to the ill or injured member of the general public by using emergency oxygen.

This course should be taught as a four-hour program. The time needed to teach the course varies and depends on many factors including the number of students and their ability to process the educational components of the program. Instructors who want to include subjects or training beyond the course requirements may do so only before or following the course. Any additional training must not be required for completion of course requirements.

Learning ObjectivesCourse participants must be familiar with the signs and symptoms of major diving injuries including near drowning and decompression illnesses (arterial gas embolism and decompression sickness).

Course participants must demonstrate proper deployment, assembly, disassembly, and use of all components of the DAN Oxygen Unit. This includes use of the demand inhalator valve / mask, constant flow (delivering oxygen at least 15 lpm), non-rebreather mask and oronasal resuscitation mask with supplemental oxygen inlet.

Course participants must complete the DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries examination with a minimum passing score of 80 percent. The instructor will review the examination with each participant to ensure 100 percent understanding of the material.

Skill Performance ObjectivesTo successfully complete the DAN Oxygen Provider course, participants must demonstrate skill and confidence during deployment, assembly and disassembly of all parts of the DAN Oxygen Unit (or other acceptable units).